The history of Randolph County, West Virginia. From its earliest settlement to the present, embracing records of all the leading families, reminiscences and traditions, Part 53

Author: Maxwell, Hu, 1860-1927
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: Morgantown, W. Va., Acme Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 550


USA > West Virginia > Randolph County > The history of Randolph County, West Virginia. From its earliest settlement to the present, embracing records of all the leading families, reminiscences and traditions > Part 53


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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BENJAMIN PHARES, born 1805, son of Robert and Susan (Minnis) Phares; Irish; was married in 1834 to Catherine, daughter of Jacob Slagle. Children, Jessie F., John R., William S., Melissa E., George W., Jasper N.


JESSE F. PHARES, born 1835, son of Benjamin and Catherine Phares, was married in 1856 to Lucinda, daughter of Joshua and Mildred (Foster) Quick. Children, Squire B., George, William H., and Elihu F .; owns 1,400 acres, 300 improved. Mr. Phares was known as the "War Sheriff" of Randolph, he holding that office under Governor Pierpont. The place was one of great danger, as there was a special attempt made by the Confeder- ates, and particularly by General Imboden, to capture or drive out the officers under the re-organized Government of Virginia. In the records of the war office are found orders issued by Confederate generals to their sub- ordinates who were expecting to invade West Virginia, instructing them to make the holding of the office of Sheriff as dangerous as possible. Mr. Phares did not escape. During Imboden's raid, 1863, Mr. Phares suddenly came upon the advance of the Confederate army between Beverly and Huttons- ville, and was shot through the body. However, he rode into Beverly and gave the alarm which enabled the Federals to make their escape. He was left in Beverly in a dying condition, as was supposed. In fact General Imboden in his official report, said he must die. But under the care of Dr. G. W. Yokum, he recovered and was afterwards pensioned by the United States, he being one of a very few (said by some to be the only one) men


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pensioned by the government who never belonged to the army. It was maintained that, though not in pay of the government, he was wounded while endeavoring to obtain information for the benefit of the Federals.


WILLIAM M. PHARES, born 1826, died 1892, son of John and Martha E. (Marteney) Phares, was married 1854 to Mary E., daughter of John B. and Elizabeth (Vineyard) Earle. Children, Allas May, John T. B., Catherine Matilda, William B., Charles Henry; farmer and merchant 30 years at Leadsville, also postmaster part of that time. His daughter Catherine married Hon. W. L. Kee, of Washington, D. C; Charles H. married Matilda Roney and is in business in Pittsburg.


BENJAMIN ISBORN PHARES, born 1828, son of John; in 1863 married Helen Amanda, daughter of George W. and Maria (Earle) Ward; children, Inez Davis, Robert L., Lee Ward, Maria, Page E., Grace, Lummie D., Guy V., Irene, Harry G., Maggie, Matie, Tucker J. and Maud E. Of these, Inez married Louis H. Anderson, of Indiana; Lummie married John Koontz, of Nebraska. John Phares moved to Leadsville when thirteen years old; was a scout in the Union army and was deputy sheriff under Frank Phares.


ELIAS W. PHARES, born 1830, died 1886, son of John; was married in 1851 to Edith, daughter of John W. and Mary (Chenoweth) Stalnaker. Children, Emma Jane, Martha Ellen, John W., Ann Eliza, Mary Alice, Lloyd Bent and Laura Anzina. Mrs. Stalnaker died 1875.


JOHNSON W. PHARES, born 1836, son of John and Martha E. (Mar- teney) Phares; German and French ancestry; was married in 1872 to Mary A., daughter of Levi D. and Rebecca (Wamsley) Ward. Children, Bruce F., Nettie B., Frona H., Charles James Pindle, John L., Burl R., Flossie H. and Nellie R .; was born and raised a farmer. His father moved from Valley Bend to Leadsville in 1841. Mr. Phares was formerly a member of the Randolph Board of Supervisers. His grandfather, Robert Phares, was born in Pendleton and died near Beverly. His grandfather, William Mar- teney, was many years a member of the Virginia Legislature. Robert Mar- teney's wife, Eunice (Isborn), was born in France and was a cousin to General Benjamin F. Butler. Bruce F. Phares, son of the subject of this sketch, was a soldier in the Spanish War in Captain Zan Collett's company. In target practice, with fifty seven regiments competing, he made the highest score, 49 points out of a possible 50.


GEORGE WASHINGTON PHARES, son of William, born 1824, married Eliza, daughter of William Wilmoth, in 1848. Children, Squire B., William P., Haman, Anzina, Mary Jane, Alice M., Amanda, Ella .M., Columbia A. and Philadelphia. He is a farmer, three miles from Elkins, owning 175 acres, 100 improved.


ABEL PHARES, born on Leading Creek in 1826, son of William and Anna Stalnaker Phares. When twenty years old he married Elizabeth,


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FAMILY HISTORY.


daughter of Archibald and Jane (Corley) See. Children, Harriet, Angelina, Emmeline, Patsy Jane, Archibald Wilson, Xantippe Crawford, Lucy Ellen. William Randolph, Laura Virginia, Caroline Augusta, Elizabeth Bird and Charles Bruce. He is a farmer and owns 287 acres underlaid with coal. Mrs. Phares, now 72 years old, is no doubt the greatest weaver in the county. She began when twelve years old, and is still at the loom, and has made that her important work for sixty years, sometimes weaving 1000 yards a year. Mr. Phares lost his nouse and its contents by fire in 1872. He raised William Bonner and considers him as one of the children.


JACOB PHARES, born 1831, son of William. In 1853 he married Jemima, daughter of William and Mary (Taylor) Wilmoth. Children, Delia, Lydia Ann, Leonard, Jasper N., Marion, Robert, Warner, Luceba, Dora and Wal- ter. He has been twice Assessor; owns 500 acres, 150 improved, three miles from Elkins. His grandfather, Robert Phares, came from Pendleton County prior to 1798, for in that year his son William was living on the waters of Leading Creek. Mr. Phares says that Roney's Run was so-called from Alexander Roney, who lived there, was captured by Indians and tied to a tree. This was no doubt the family spoken of in the "Border War- fare." Warner Phares joined the West Virginia National Guards in 1894.


LEONARD PHARES, born 1858, son of Jacob. His mother's maiden name was Jemima Wilmoth. He was married in 1881 to Laura Louella, daughter of Seymour and Virginia C. (Taylor) Wilmoth. Children, Lottie, Leslie J., Grover C. and Roy Lynn. He is a farmer, and after trying the West, and engaging in other business in this State, he came back to Randolph, and owns a 90-acre farm near Orlena, half improved.


JASPER N. PHARES, born 1860, son of Jacob and Jemima Phares; mar- ried Addie, daughter of Eli and Margaret Taylor, in 1897. He is a merchant at Gilman and a member of the West Virginia National Guards.


SQUIRE B. PHARES, born 1858, son of Jesse F. Phares; married Olive J. Osborn, 1885. Children, Zada, Estella, Stella, Lue and Jesse.


ROBERT L. PHARES, born 1865, son of Benjamin I. and Helen A. (Ward) Phares; was married in 1891 to Margaret, daughter of H. C. and Sarah E. (Gillam) Bowers. Children, Lola Z., Turl Victoria, Latan. Farmer and milkman.


SQUIRE B. PHARES, son of George W., born 1855, was married in 1880 to Annie R., daughter of Godfrey and Lucinda Marstiller, and their children were Cora, Bernard W., Dollie T., Ercy, Leland J., Hallie W. He is a farmer and lumberman, owning 97 acres four miles from Elkins.


PERRY PHARES, born 1866, son of G. W. and Eliza (Wilmoth) Phares; married in 1889 to Maggie B. Hamrick. Children, Donzel, Neva, Lelia and Pauline. Trackman on the railroad.


WILLIAM L. PARSONS, born 1845 in Tucker County, son of James R. and


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FAMILY HISTORY.


Mahala (Mason) Parsons. Near Montrose, 1868, he married Rebecca B., daughter of Thomas and Bashaba (Nutter) Schoonover. Children, Wise C. and James R. His wife died in 1895 and he married Columbia E. daughter of Isaac Ward of Barbour. He owns 135 acres, one-half improved, near Montrose, and was in the Confederate army under Imboden, in the battle of Gettysburg and in many skirmishes. He was wounded at the Sinks of Gandy March 20, 1864, at the time Oliver Triplett was killed and Jasper N. and Anthony Triplett and Dow Adams were wounded. He is a member of the U. B. Church.


JOSHUA PARSONS, born in Tucker County, 1846, son of James R. Par- sons, was married in 1868 to Lois M., daughter of Thomas and Bashaba B. (Nutter) Schoonover. Their children are Burl N., Edgar D., Maud R., Page L., Burr D., Ella M., Nancy E., and Jared G. Of these, Burl is in Oklahoma and Page in Ohio. Mr. Parsons came to Randolph in 1882 and owns a sixty-six acre farm near Montrose.


REV. MATHIAS PORTER HAMILTON POTTS, born 1846 in Pocahontas County, son of M. C. Potts. His father was born in 1803, and in 1833 mar- ried Rachel Warwick McCabe. Rev. Potts married Martha Elizabeth, daughter of Alexander C. Logan in 1872. After her death he married Maggie, daughter of Joseph and Isabel (Green) Baxter. Children, Laura Moore, Lena Gay, Joanna, John Alexander Broaddus, Bucy Holden, and Lily Mabell. His great grandfather came from England, and his son Ben- jamin Pott, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in Maryland 1773. Rev. Potts entered the ministry in 1877, preaching under the direc- tion of the West Virginia Baptist State Mission Board. In 1890 he resigned bis work and moved to Elkins and opened the Temperauce Hotel. He still preaches but has noregular work. His father was born in Bath Co., and when twenty-seven years old he moved to Pocahontas, and fourteen years later to Randolph, three miles east of Valley Head, where he was eight years a Justice of the Peace. He had four sous in the Confederate Army. He died at Huntington, W. Va., 1882. Of his four sons, Benjamin F. died in Poca- hontas; Lieutenant J. N. Potts is Chief of Police at Huntington, W. Va .; Capt. L. G. Potts lives at McConnelsburg, Pa .; the fourth is the subject of this sketch, who was a soldier in the Confederate army.


JAMES OSCAR POTTS, born 1860, son of Benjamin F. and Mary Potts, Irish and German ancestry; was married in 1880 to Eugenia, daughter of Powhatan A. Tolly. Children, Cora See, Elvin Porter, Addalee, and Mintie Gertrude. He is a carpenter living in Beverly; lived formerly in Mingo. His grandfather, M. C. Potts, was the second settler on Ware's Ridge. Benjamin F. Potts was an officer in McClanahan's Battery.


SOLOMON JUDY PENNINGTON, born 1845, son of Solomon A. In 1870 he married Eliza J. Wilfong. Children, Mary Susan, William Perry, Virginia


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FAMILY HISTORY.


Catherine, Solomon Adka, Abel Seymour, Margaret Elizabeth, French Harding, Joshua Heatwell, Ruth, Anna Lutetia, Enoch Riley, George W. Sisk and Allen Zacharias.


VINSON B. PENNINGTON, born 1873, son of Vinson B. and Phoebe (Flannagan) Pennington. In 1894 he married Annie, daughter of John and Jennie Graham. Children, Preston D., Zenia, Fronia. He is a railroader on Dry Fork.


SAMPSON J. Pennington, born 1867, son of Vinson B .; was married in 1892 to Christina, daughter of John W. and Emily (Lantz) Thompson; farmer and railroader.


HENRY CLAY DAUGHERTY PENNINGTON, born 1873, and in 1893 he married Virginia, daughter of Solomon J. and Eliza Jane Pennington. They have one child, Ed. Bryan.


JESSE PENNINGTON, was born 1846, and married Martha E., daughter of Thomas S. White. Children, Lutitia, Estelline, Mary J., George W., Andrew J., Zella M., Alex R., Lucy B., Salathiel D., Albert W., and Henry Otta.


SAMUEL AUGUSTUS PURKEY, born 1818 in Rockingham County, Va .; died 1896; son of John and Elizabeth (Colter) Purkey; German ancestors; married 1843 at Meadowville, Barbour County, to Phoebe, daughter of Jesse and Margaret (Kittle) Phillips. Children, Alcinda, William H., Syl- vanas T., Margaret E., Melvina E., Albina, David B., Mary C., Phoebe Ann, James McClellan, John R. The father of the subject of this sketch, John Purkey, came from Germany and settled in Virginia. He lived to the age of 104 years, and his wife 103. Samuel Purkey came to West Virginia about 1842, locating at Meadowville, where he opened a shoemaker's shop. Twelve years later he moved to Randolph, locating at New Interest, now Kerens. He lived a very quiet, industrous life and was noted for his skill in making boots and shoes.


DAVID B. PURKEY, son of Samuel A .; was married in 1895 in Grant County, to Eliza Belle, daughter of Charles A. and Susan (Shell) Tucker. Children, Neal Rennix, Charles Augustus. He is a harness maker, having worked at Harman, Kerens and Elkins.


SYLVANUS T. PURKEY, born 1848, son of Samuel A .; was married in 1871 to Sarah C., daughter of Henry and Anna (Brimble) Ark. Children, Lula B., Frank L., Charles H., Samuel T .; farmer; formerly deputy sheriff in Tucker County.


JONAS J. POLING, son of David and Margaret Poling; was born in Barbour County, where in 1867 he married Jane, daughter of James and Anna McGuffin. Children, Charles A., Louisa F., Anna R., Emma C., Ar- thur A., Irvin J., James L. and Morgan B. He owns 132 acres near Mon-


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FAMILY HISTORY.


trose, and has for six years kept the paupers under contract with the county; and in Barbour he kept them seven years. His father was born in 1802, and his grandfather, Isaac Poling, lived also in Barbour, east of Philippi.


JOHN HADDAN PRITT, born 1850, son of John and Nancy Pritt; mar- ried 1871 to Mary E., daughter of Sampson and Amy (Geer) Shiflett. Chil- dren, Elam C., Lottie L., Amy P., Guy M., Tippie J., Wye P. and Mable H.


WIRT C. PRITT, son of John; married Jane Stalnaker 1878, children, Sophrona, Mattie, Nancy, Lena, Rissie, Duck, Warrick. He is a farmer.


RILEY PRITT, son of James and Sadney (McLaughlin) Pritt, born 1846; Irish ancestry; was married in 1868 to Catharine, daughter of Isom and Margaret Channel. Children, Warwick, Hattie, Branch, Ernest, Clifford, Howard and Helen. He owns 225 acres; is an ex-member of county court; was justice of the peace; and is a well-known and successful business man of Valley Bend,


JOHNSON PRITT, born 1851, son of Edward and Susan (Phares) Pritt; was married in 1876 to Hannah, daughter of Henry and Hannah Harper. Children, Hugh, Margaret, Opie, Susan and Edward E. He owns an in- terest in 1324 acres.


HUGH PRITT, born 1877, son of Johnson and Hannah (Harper) Pritt, is a school teacher and obtained a No. 1 certificate the first application before the Board of Examiners.


ROBERT LEE PRITT, born 1860, son of Edward and Susanna (Phares) Pritt; Irish ancestry; was married in 1895 to Georgiana, daughter of George C. and Melissa Long. Child, Wilson. He owns one-third interest in 3258 acres, 746 improved. A house built in 1808 still stands on the farm, having been the finest house in Randolph when built.


CHARLES SIDNEY PRITT, son of Edward Pritt, born 1874, He has worked in Barbour and Pocahontas Counties, and is a resident of Beverly District.


WAYNE KENNEDY PRITT, born 1872, in Randolph, but now living in Tucker County, where he was elected, 1896, by the Republican party, clerk of the circuit court; son of George W. and Lucy Pritt.


ELBER E. W. PHILLIPS, born 1850, son of George H. and Margaret (McGee) Phillips; was married in 1869 to Mary E., daughter of Marshall Scott. Children, Allen, Nora, Everett, George, Charles. Married second time to Annie G. Crouch. He owns 287 acres in Valley Bend, one-half well improved.


GEORGE M. PHILLIPS, born in Tucker County, 1860, son of Alfred Phil- lips; English parentage. In 1878, at Huttonsville, he married Sirena M.,


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FAMILY HISTORY.


daughter of J. G. and Nancy L. Howell. Children, Alice, Mary, Walter, Francis, Westley and Russie. He lives in Beverly District.


RANDOLPH PHILLIPS, born 1846, son of Moses and Margaret (Scott) Phillips, Irish and Welsh parentage; married 1867, Mary W., daughter of William H. and Elizabeth (Harris) Apperson. Children, Dennis, Margaret, Claude, Bertha, Maude E., Cecil, Walter, Warwick and Jessie. He is a farmer; owns 300 acres: served two years with Confederate army; worked several years repairing turnpikes in Randolph County.


JAMES J. PHILLIPS, born 1835, son of Moses; was married 1875 to Emmeline Markley. Children, James, Anna, Margaret, Moses, Randolph, Abraham, Crawford, Oliver, Martha, Rebecca and Frank.


CLAUDE PHILLIPS, born 1845, son of Moses and Margaret Phillips; farmer. He served in the Confederate army; was in prison six months; and after the war started for California, but stopped at St. Joseph, Mo., and studied commercial law and geology and other sciences; then was em- ployed on the railroads and in large packing houses. In California he spent some time in the gold mines. He thoroughly educated himself in all de- partments of literature. When he returned to West Virginia he took great interest in the development of Roaring Creek. He named the town of Womelsdorff and made an exhaustive and thorough geological survey of Roaring Creek, and in his publications he advertised its resources to the world. He wrote to President Cleveland and laid before him the urgent need of better postal facilities for Roaring Creek, and the President imme- diately took steps which led to the establishment of another postoffice in that part of Randolph County. Mr. Phillips is a Democrat, but has never asked for office; never was a witness in court, never served as a juryman but once. He has crossed the continent twice from Baltimore to San Fran- cisco; is a Knight of Pythias, and is at present engaged in writing and pub- lishing the resources of Roaring Creek. He has done much to bring that part of the country to the attention of capitalists.


JESSE J. PHILLIPS, born in Barbour County in 1847, son of Blackman and Nancy Phillips, of English descent; married Martha, daughter of Ma- jor D. B. and Elizabeth Long. She died 1888, and four years later he mar- ried Seba E., daughter of Jacob and Jemima (Wilmoth) Phares. Children, Walter Scott, Emory Powell, Blackman David, Harley Jasper and Baby. He came to Randolph in 1888 and opened a saddlery and harness shop at Kerens, and engaged in the mercantile business at Montrose in 1889, and at Orlena two years later. He is agent for the W. Va. C. R. R., and assistant postmaster at Orlena. His son, Walter S., enlisted for the Spanish War, in the Red Cross service, in a cavalry brigade; was at the storming of San Juan, on the outskirts of Santiago, July 1, 2 and 3, 1898, and was present at the surrender of Santiago a few days later. He returned to Randolph in September, 1898.


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FAMILY HISTORY.


WILBUR POSTEN, born 1856, son of Nicholas and Rosanna (Graham) Posten; Irish and German ancestry. In 1878 at Tunnelton, Preston County, he married Flora B., daughter of Thornton J. and Sarah J. Bonafield. Chil- dren, Rector V., Lester J., Carrie V., Curtis J. and Julia M. He is post- master at Huttonsville, and in the mercantile business at that place; was formerly a merchant in Preston County.


JAMES S. POSTEN, born in Morgantown 1866; son of Nicholas; was married in 1891 to Sadie E., daughter of P. G. Smith, and they have one child, Blaine. He came to Elkins in 1889 and engaged in the mercantile business, and was postmaster both under Harrison and Mckinley. He built a brick block at a cost of $11,000, which is used as storerooms, opera house and lodge rooms.


JOHN AD PORTER, born 1848, in Pendleton County, son of George L. and Sarah (Singler) Porter. In 1871, at Circleville, he married Martha E., daughter of Hugh W. and Mary Jane Nash. Children, Julia M., George H., Charles Gabriel, William Claude, Emma Jane and Agnes Catherine. He has lived in Randolph since 1882; shoemaker; owns property at Day's Mill's; was assistant postmaster under Cleveland.


HENRY HARRISON PAYNE, born 1842, in Rockbridge County, son of Thomas and Sydney (Jones) Payne. In 1866 he married, in Virginia, Susan, daughter of James C. and Christina Heltzel. Children, Elizabeth, Maggie, Thomas Jackson, Mary, William, Susan and Jacob. He is a farmer; owns 600 acres, 350 improved: moved to Randolph in 1880.


VICTOR BENTON PUTNAM, born 1868, at Front Royal, Va., son of James K. and Alice Putnam; English. He is a carpenter and a member of the Bev- erly town council, and is an Odd Fellow.


H. M. PFAU, born 1860, died 1896; married, 1885, to Malinda, daughter of Alpheus and Amanda Irons, of Tucker County. Children, Harland C., Ora M., Iva V., Otha Dellis and Edna B.


CLARENCE HOWARD POTTER, born in Pennsylvania, son of James and Polly Potter; married Sarah C., daughter of Francis McKinzie, in 1883. Children, Harry S., Clarence A. and Vella M. He has been a farmer, lum- berman, hotel man and saloon-keeper, and lives at Whitmer. He is a K. of P., and Odd Fellow. His father was born in New York in 1811.


HENRY H. WITHERS POWERS, born 1861 in Gilmer County, son of El- mer and Minerva Powers; was married in Upshur County, 1884, to Saman- tha, daughter of Squire B. and Roxana McCann. Children, Ortha, Elmer, Leslie, Nellie and Flora. He is a carpenter at Elkins; taught school in Up- shur five years, and was employed some time by the W. Va. C. R. R., and by the Alexander Lumber Co., in Upshur. His ancestors were early set- tlers in Harrison, and were frequently engaged fighting Indians. He is the inventor of a gauge for handsaws.


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FAMILY HISTORY.


JOHN PHILIP PIGOTT, born 1854, son of Louis H. and Elizabeth Pigott; married Eliza W. Dotson. Children, Detosie Etka, William Leslie and Amy Inis; educated for the ministry and now pastor of the U. B. Church at Kerens; taught school in Doddridge County; is engaged in farming as well as preaching.


EDWARD ROSSER PENCE, born 1865 in . Augusta County, Va., son of Emanuel and Elizabeth (Wise) Pence; German parentage; lives in Beverly.


R.


REV. JOHN ROWAN, one of the early settlers of Randolph, was born in Maryland, April 12, 1749. He was a minister of the M. E. Church and the records show that for many years he performed nearly all the marriage ceremonies in the county. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and was wounded at the battle of Brandywine, During the battle, at one point, the British cavalry charged and role over the American infantry. Rev. Rowan, to the end of his life, carried the print of a horse shoe on his back, received ou that occasion. Sometime after peace was declared, he married Elizabeth Howard, in Anne Arundell County, Md. In 1809 he emigrated to Randolph County, and on April 12, of that year he located three and a half miles north of Beverly, on the west side of the river, and lived there about three years. He then moved to Roaring Creek and settled on 3000 acres of land which he had purchased one half mile north of where Womelsdorff now stands. He was one of the first settlers in that region and made con- siderable improvement. He lived there about ten years, and then lost his land in a lawsuit with Daniel Stringer. He then moved back to the Valley and taught school and preached until he became too feeble. He was one of Randolph's early educators. He died at Beverly, December 29, 1833. His wife died February 19, 1844. Their children were John, Thomas, Joseph, Francis, William, Nancy, Elizabeth, Bathany and Labanah. John taught school in Randolph County for thirty years. Thomas was a soldier in the War of 1812 and was stationed at Norfolk Va.


WILLIAM ROWAN, son of John was born August 17, 1804, and on April 10th, 1827, married Anna, daughter of John S. and Anna Goff, in what is now Barbour County, about seven miles east of Philippi. John S. Goff was born in Virginia, June 14, 1770, and on July 2, 1794, married Anna Howell, who was born December 27, 1778. The children of William Rowan were John A., George W., David B., Eli H. and Adam C. William Rowan was constable and deputy sheriff for over thirty years. He died in Beverly, November 21, 1883. His wife Anna was born September 24, 1804 and died March 6, 1898. At the time of her death she had living three great, great- grand children. George W. Rowan was a member of Co. F. 31st Va. Vol. Infantry in the Civil War. John A, was elected Justice of the Peace in 1856.


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FAIMLY HISTORY.


ADAM CRAWFORD ROWAN, son of William and Anna Rowan, was born September 15, 1836; Irish ancestry; on November 30, 1860, married Phoebe A., daughter of Solomon C. and Nancy (Chenoweth) Caplinger. Children Stark A., Grace C., Wade H., Frank A. Adam C. Rowan is a merchant at Beverly, and has held the office of Justice of the Peace since 1888. He is possessed, by inheritance of what was in former times a necessary piece of furniture, but which is now a curiosity. It is a mold in which spoons were made. Formerly each neighborhood made its own pewter spoons, and these molds saw service in Ireland many a generation ago.


ELI H. ROWAN, born 1834, son of William. In 1856 he married M. E., daughter of John and Ellen (Skidmore) Chenoweth. Children, Florence A., Bailey S., Flora, Eliza, Julia, George W., Ella, Media, Nettie, Hanning F., C. Mick; was postmaster 24 years at Roaring Creek, farmer, blacksmith and merchant.


JOHN A. ROWAN, born 1828, son of William. In 1852 he married Rachel, daughter of John and Ellen Chenoweth. Children, Burns, William J., Eli C., Kent, Lee, Delphia, Martha, Mary, Thomas, Peggy and Ida.


W. J. ROWAN, born 1852, son of J. A. and R. A. Rowan. In 1874 he married Jane, daughter of Levi and Emmaline Findley. Children, Flor- ence, Emmeline, Cynthia, Vinna, Delbert, Harriet and Herbert.


GEORGE W. ROWAN, born 1865, son of E. H. and Mary Rowan. In 1894 he married Lizzie Kittle. Children, Effie and Hoddie.




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